China Coast Guard Blocks PCG Pursuit Of Suspected Dynamite Fishing Boat

Pag-asa Island, Philippines – Philippine maritime law enforcement personnel were blocked by Chinese coast guard vessels while pursuing a fishing boat suspected of using dynamite in Philippine territorial waters on October 4.

At around 7:20 a.m., personnel of Joint Task Unit Pag-asa spotted a foreign fishing vessel apparently conducting blast fishing near Sandy Cays 2 and 3, about three nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island.

The Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy and PNP Maritime Group quickly deployed several boats to investigate. The team reached the fishing vessel at about 10 a.m., but smaller boats reportedly involved in the blasting had already returned to the mother vessel.

The Philippine team ordered the fishing vessel to stop and radioed it several times. The vessel ignored the orders and headed southwest toward Zamora Reef. As the Philippine boats followed, China Coast Guard vessels 5102 and 21581 moved toward them, with 21581 shadowing and blocking the Philippine boats.

At one point, the Chinese vessel came within about 10 yards of PCG high-speed response boat HSRB-019. A People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter also circled over the Philippine team four times.

For safety reasons, the Philippine team stopped pursuing the fishing vessel at about 10:23 a.m. and returned safely to Pag-asa Island.

The PCG said dynamite fishing is prohibited under Philippine law because it destroys coral reefs and fish stocks relied upon by Filipino fishermen. The incident will be documented and referred through diplomatic channels.